I think it is perfectly fine as long as it is hot. We are going to have fondue sometime this winter - DH is Swiss - and I don't know if I will be able to find gruyere cheese pasteurized. I can find the emmentaler, but not always the gruyere. But the stuff is practically boiling hot, so it's gotta be ok.

All domestic cheeses that are aged less than 60 days MUST be made from pasteurized milk. It's required by law. Then the link itself says that cheeses made from UNpasteurized milk but aged 60 days or more are OK. I know that around here all of the "Mexican" cheeses are actually domestic, just made in the Mexican style. And even if they're imported the FDA requires unpasteurized cheeses to be aged 60+ days. It's actually relatively difficult to find a young, soft, unpasteurized cheese.

It certainly never hurts to err on the side of caution but in a case like this I think the OP is probably in more risk on the car ride to the restaurant than while eating the queso...

All domestic cheeses that are aged less than 60 days MUST be made from pasteurized milk. It's required by law. Then the link itself says that cheeses made from UNpasteurized milk but aged 60 days or more are OK. I know that around here all of the "Mexican" cheeses are actually domestic, just made in the Mexican style. And even if they're imported the FDA requires unpasteurized cheeses to be aged 60+ days. It's actually relatively difficult to find a young, soft, unpasteurized cheese.

It certainly never hurts to err on the side of caution but in a case like this I think the OP is probably in more risk on the car ride to the restaurant than while eating the queso...

I know this was something I looked into with my last pregnancy, because I have a huge addiction to authentic Mexican food while pregnant

I know the queso that we buy in the Mexican market is not pastuerized. If I can't read the label personally, I don't eat queso.

The link you posted even specifically says it is ok if heated to bubbling, though, which would be the case with hot cheese dip. I would not eat it cold for sure, but hot should kill anything bad that may be present.

Just to let you know....now you have ME craving white cheese dip and I'm not happy because we're flooded in. Can't go anywhere to get aforementioned cheese dip.

I'll be hunting you down missy.

Haha! Sorry I DID get my cheese dip, but am paying for it with awful heartburn and indigestion. It came out steaming and super, super hot, so I'm certain if it was unpasteurized, all the bacteria should have been killed.

The link you posted even specifically says it is ok if heated to bubbling, though, which would be the case with hot cheese dip. I would not eat it cold for sure, but hot should kill anything bad that may be present.

I've never been served bubbling cheese dip at a restaurant.

I'm just saying that *I* choose not to eat it while pregnant. There is enough evidence *for*me* to choose not to do so.